Authorities have released surveillance pictures for a person of interest in a series of armed robberies in Lenoir County.

Sheriff Chris Hill says the man was recently in the Crossroads Store on Hugo Road. That store was robbed Tuesday night by a gunman who demanded money and cigarettes.

Lawmen believe the same robber held up the North Lenoir Community Mart on November 25 and shot at the owner as he escaped the store.

Hill says right now the man without the mask is only classified as a person of interest in the Crossroads robbery.

Crossroad's owner Ray Sarah tells us the man came into his store almost exactly 24 hours before the robbery, but didn't buy anything.

Sarah and the sheriff's office are offering rewards totaling $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the case.

To view the surveillance pictures, click VIEW GALLERY at the top of this story.

Anyone who can recognize the man should call the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office at 252-559-6140.

Previous Story

The owner of a store that was hit Tuesday night by a repeat robber has tripled the reward being offered.

Around 8:00 p.m. a masked gunman came into Crossroads Grocery on Hugo Road in Lenoir County and demanded money and cigarettes.

Sheriff Chris Hill says they believe it's the same man that robbed the North Lenoir Community Mart on November 25th and shot at the owner.

Crossroads' owner Ray Sarah on Wednesday offered a $2,000 reward, that's on top of $1,000 being offered by the sheriff.

The store clerk said he knew the gunman was the same robber, having seen previous news reports on the first hold-up.

Sarah says there were several customers in his store at the time, and they're just fortunate no one was injured. He feels this robber will strike again, and every store in the area needs to be on alert.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office at 252-559-6140.

Previous Story

The Lenoir County Sheriff's Office is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a man investigators believe robbed 2 stores in 15 days and was caught on video both times.

Sheriff Chris Hill says at about 8:00 p.m. Tuesday a black man entered the Crossroads Grocery at 1520 Hugo Road. The masked robber had a small handgun and deputies say he demanded money and cigarettes. Investigators say the clerk complied and the suspect fled the store, running to a small silver 2 door vehicle.

Sheriff Hill says this suspect is believed to be the same man that robbed the North Lenoir Community Mart November 25th and shot at the owner.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office at 252-559-6140.

PREVIOUS STORY, November 26, 2013A store owner was shot at after he ran from two gunmen who were holding up his store.

Now, Lenoir County deputies believe that robbery, and an attempted armed robbery that happened less than an hour earlier are probably related.

Deputies say Monday night around 7:30 p.m. the North Lenoir Community Mart, on Institute Road, was robbed at gunpoint.

The gunmen ordered Sam Halter, the store owner, to get down in a corner of the business. As Halter felt like he was going to be shot, he distracted the robbers and was able to run out the back door. One of the robbers fired at least one shot at the owner, but it did not hit him.

Two bullet holes struck the rear of the store, while an employee says just last week someone tried to break into the store through the roof.

Some 45 minutes before that robbery, a man said two gunmen tried to rob him after he stopped at the intersection of Banks School Road and Falling Creek Road. That victim was able to quickly drive off and wasn't injured.

Sheriff Chris Hill says there's a good chance someone saw the gunmen's vehicle driving around Banks School Road and Falling Creek Road or near Institute. The two are described as black men, wearing dark clothing.

Halter is offering a $2,000 reward, while Hill is will provide $1,000 for information that leads to the arrests of the two robbers. Anyone with information should call the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office at 252-559-6140.

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